Oscar-Winning Director to Helm Milli Vanilli Biopic

Deadline has learned that Florian Gallenberger, the German-born filmmaker who won an Oscar for his live-action short "Quero Ser" and directed "John Rabe," has signed on to write and direct a feature film based on the 80s pop duo Milli Vanilli.

The story will revolve around Rob Pilatus and Fabrice Morvan, who were hired by German record producer Frank Farian as the faces of his music group. Farian had the signers and the songs, but wanted a certain look, which he found when he spotted model/dancer friends Pilatus and Morvan in a Munich club.

They soared to the top of the charts with songs like "Blame It On The Rain" and "Girl You Know It's True" until evidence began to mount that they were lip-synching frauds. Farian ended up exposing the charade, but by then, the group has sold millions of records and won a Grammy Award. The trophy was taken away, class action lawsuits were filed, and the group was dropped from Arista Records.

Pilatus and Morvan were demoralized and shamed. Pilatus became a drug addict and served time for robbery. But just has he seemed to be back on track, with plans of a reunion album with Morvan, he died from a drug overdose.